H.R. 3835 - To extend the pay limitation for Members of Congress and Federal Employees (Rep. Duffy – Oversight and Government Reform) This bill would extend an existing pay freeze on federal employees, which has already saved $60 billion, for a third straight year, through December 31, 2013. There have been no hearings on this bill in either of the two Committees to which it has been referred. Moreover, the House has already voted to extend the pay freeze for federal employees through 2013 as an offset for the payroll tax holiday extension in H.R. 3630. In addition, it would apply the same pay freeze to members of Congress. The GOP Majority is pairing two separate issues together, once again demonstrating that they are more interested in politics than finding real solutions. Members are urged to VOTE NO on H.R. 3835.

H.Res. 496 - Adjusting the amount provided for the expenses of certain committees of the House of Representatives in the One Hundred Twelfth Congress (Rep. Lungren – House Administration)

H.R. 3567 - Welfare Integrity Now for Children and Families Act of 2011, as amended (Rep. Boustany – Ways and Means)

H.R. 1173 – The Fiscal Responsibility and Retirement Security Act of 2011 (Rep. Boustany – Energy and Commerce/Ways and Means) This bill would repeal the Community Living Assistance Services and Supports (CLASS) program that was authorized as part of The Affordable Care Act as a means of helping Americans afford long-term care services. Last October, the administration announced that it does not plan to implement the CLASS program because it could not identify a viable way to maintain the program's long-term solvency at this time. Republicans want to repeal the voluntary CLASS program to prevent the administration from trying to implement it in the future. H.R. 1173 would also convert funding for the National Clearinghouse for Long-Term Care from an annual appropriation to an authorization. The bill would authorize an appropriation of $3 million for fiscal years 2013 through 2015 for Clearinghouse funding. The bill would not offer any solutions to the problem of long term care, and does not seek to find viable alternatives.

The Rule for H.R. 1173 was adopted yesterday and it allows any amendment submitted and printed in the Congressional Record to be in order for consideration. It allows pro forma amendments and provides that the bill shall be considered for amendment for a period not to exceed three hours. There were 5 amendments submitted and printed in the Congressional Record.

The GOP Leadership has announced the following schedule for Thursday, February 2: The House will meet at 12:00 p.m. for legislative business. The House is expected to consider H.R. 3582 - Pro-Growth Budgeting Act of 2011 (Rep. Price (GA) - Budget/Rules) (Subject to a Rule).

The Daily Quote

“House Republican poll ratings have plunged over the past year, as Washington’s brutal battles have taken a toll on a party that was flying high last January when it took the majority. Long, drawn-out skirmishes over the debt ceiling, the supercommittee and the payroll tax holiday have led to a 64 percent unfavorable rating for Republicans, with their favorable numbers sitting at 29 percent, according to an internal poll conducted by GOP pollster David Winston in the final days of December 2011. To illustrate how precipitous a drop that is, Republicans started off 2011 with a 43 percent favorable rating and 46 percent unfavorable rating.”